Food Facts and Tips

Safe Pantry Food Storage Time Limits

While there is ample advice on safe storage times for food items in the refrigerator, the storage time limits for dry, canned and packaged foods in the pantry are not widely unknown. Do you worry about that old bag of flower, opened packet of pasta or pies hiding on the back of the shelves? Are older items and ingredients safe to eat, edible and will taste nice when cooked? When should older items in the pantry be discarded?

This article provides all the answers you need by summarising safe room temperature storage times for common foods and ingredients. These times are presented in a table with items listed form shortest to longest times. As a bonus the article also includes safe storage times for foods in the refrigerator and freezer for common foods and ingredients.

General Guide to Safe Storage Time Limits for Pantry Staples

Nuts - generally should be used within a month because they are prone to molds and fungus and they simply go stale when opened

Dried Herbs - generally they keep well if kept dry, but they lose their flavor and 'punch'. It is best to replace them after 12 months. Ground spices can be kept for 2-3 years. Fresh dried herbs always seem to have more flavor and aroma. Check the use by dates on the packages as these items may stay on the shop shelves for long periods before being bought.

Brown and White Rice - Brown rice has a much shorter shelf life because of its high oil content and germ within the grains. Brown rice should be used within 3-6 months; white rice can be kept for 3-4 four years. Brown rice that goes rancid will have a distinct 'bad' odor. It pays to look for weevils and moths.

Flour - the shelf life is much shorter than you think. Flour can quickly go rancid due to humidity, especially the wholemeal varieties. Old flour simply tastes stale when cooked. Discard flour after 6 months.

Pasta - absorbs moisture when the package seal is broken and should be used within 12 months. Pasta should be stored in an air-tight container in the pantry.

Tea - generally keeps well, but it can lose flavor and aroma when opened. Unopened boxes and packets of tea can last 12 months, but opened packets should be used within 2-3 months.

Honey and Jams - use unopened honey and jams within 6 months. Opened honey and jams should be stored in the refrigerator due to possible contamination by bacteria, moulds and fungi.

Stock Cubes - generally should be used within 12 months of purchase when unopened. Opened packets and cubes can be stored briefly in the refrigerator.

Vegetable Oils - should be used within 12 months as they gradually oxidise and go rancid.

Safe Storage Times for Foods in the Pantry

The table below provides data on the safe storage times for various foods at room temperature. the foods are listed from the shortest to the longest. You can click on the food name heading to show the foods in alphabetical order.

Periodically sorting the food items on shelves with various 'dispose by dates' will help you keep track of what needs to go and when. You cannot rely on 'use by dates' as these often apply to sealed packages and some items may not have these dates as the packaging may have been discarded. Changing the dates and labels will help you to know which foods are nearing the end of their shelf life at room temperature.

Safe Storage Times for Foods in the Refrigerator and Freezer

The table below list the recommended maximum storage times for foods in the refrigerator and freezer. The food are listed alphabetically. The two tables provide a comprehensive list of safe storage times for common foods and ingredients.

Recommended maximum storage time (months) for foods at room temperature (20 degrees C; 70 degrees F) - sorted with shortest time at the top

Food

Time (months)

Fresh onions

0.5

Fresh white potatoes

0.5

Salad oils (opened)

1

Canned pickles, olives (opened)

1

Catsup, chili sauce (opened)

1

Ready-to-eat cereal (opened)

2

Instant coffee (opened)

2

Marshmallows

2

Mayonnaise (unopened)

2

Packaged cookies

2

Cheese, parmesan, grated (opened)

2

Peanut butter (opened)

2

Non-fat dry milk (opened)

3

Salad dressings, bottled (opened)

3

Crackers

3

Dry yeast

3

Brown sugar

4

Meat substitutes

4

Nuts, in-shell (unopened)

4

Bread crumbs (dried)

6

Chocolate syrup (opened)

6

Cocoa mixes

6

Coffee lighteners (dry, opened)

6

Whole wheat flour

6

Molasses (opened)

6

Non-fat dry milk (unopened)

6

Egg noodles

6

Brown, wild rice

6

Salad oils (unopened)

6

Pancake mix

6

Instant potatoes

6

Rice mixes

6

Sauce and gravy mixes

6

Fruits, dried

6

Mustard, prepared yellow (opened)

6

Ground spices and herbs

6

Herbs

6

Herb and spice blends

6

Vegetable, dehydrated flakes

6

Coconut packaged, canned

6

Peanut butter (unopened)

6

White flour

7

Shortenings, solid

8

Pie crust mix

8

Bulgur

9

Ready-to-eat cereal (unopened)

9

Coffee lighteners (dry, unopened)

9

Biscuit, brownie, muffin mix

9

Cake mixes

9

Casseroles, complete or add own meat

9

Canned fruit juices

9

Salad dressings, bottled (unopened)

10

Cheese, parmesan, grated (unopened)

10

Pre-melted chocolate

12

Instant coffee (unopened)

12

Cornmeal

12

Grits

12

Honey

12

Jellies, jams

12

Molasses (unopened)

12

Pectin, liquid or dry

12

Syrups

12

Vinegar (opened)

12

Angel food

12

Puddings mixes

12

Soup mixes

12

Canned foods (unopened)

12

Vegetables, dried

12

Catsup, chili sauce (unopened)

12

Whole spices and herbs

12

Vanilla (opened)

12

Peas, beans – dried

12

Dry whipped topping

12

Baking powder

18

Bouillon cubes or granules

18

Semi-sweet chocolate

18

Unsweetened chocolate

18

Cornstarch

18

Gelatin

18

Confectioners sugar

18

Tea bags

18

Baking soda

24

Chocolate syrup (unopened)

24

Coffee (unopened)

24

Pasta

24

White rice

24

Granulated sugar

24

Sweeteners sugar

24

Loose tea

24

Vinegar (unopened)

24

Mustard, prepared yellow

24

Vanilla (unopened)

24

Coconut shredded, packaged

24

Popcorn

24

Cocoa

36

Instant tea

36

Recommended maximum storage times for foods in the refrigerator (days) and freezer (months) - Listed Alphabetically